Improved machine for making sh eet-metal pans



c. F. CHAMBERS.

Making Sheet Metal Pans.

Patented July 4, 186 5...

stroke.

."U,'NITED YSTAITES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. CHAMBERS, on HUTSONVILLE, ILLINoIs. v

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MAKINGSHEET-lVlETAL ,IPANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patept No. 48,516, dated July 4,1865..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. UH AMBERS, of 'Hutsonville, in the countyof Crawford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Making Sheet-Metal Pans; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in machines for makingsheet-metal pans, by which pans of the ordinary rectangular shape areformed of asingle sheet of metal more rapidly and economically than whenmade by hand, and of more uniform size and smoother finish, besideswhich the objectionable noise created when pans are formed with themallet and stake is entirely dispensed with.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my improvements.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same; and Figs. 3 land 4show the method of closing down the corners on the jack-head.

The frame A supports, at a suitable height,

the horizontal bench B, having a transverse opening, b, which permitsthe passage of the angling-rollers, to be hereinafter described.

The standards 0 U, rising vertically from the frame A, are provided withoblique grooves, which serve to guide in a proper path the gate 7 D. Thegate D affords journal-hearings for the angling-rollers E E, which, inconnection with a suitable block or form, serve to bend or upset thestuff of which the pan is composed. These rollers operate to bend thestuff in a downward stroke, which is effected through the medium of thetreadle l3 and rods f. The treadle is worked by the foot of theoperator, and is journaled to the frame at G. The gate D, and with itthe angling-rollers E E, is made self-retractive by means of the springsH H, or, if preferred, a rope or chain, secured to the gate and passingover a sheave, may be attached to a weight of suflicient size towithdraw the gate after the downward or eifective The form consists of amain or central block,

I, of metal or hard wood, and a series of sup of the forming-block I.The front and rear flange of this bed-plate serves to retain the seriesof blocks in a uniform position, and the blocks are prevented from beinglifted out by the tongue j, which enters a groove, t'. The rear faces ofthe series'of blocks are made at an angle'corresponding to the pathdescribed by the angling-rollers E E. The bed-plate J, and with it theform I, is confined to a rectilinear path by the tongues a a, and has ashort 1 automatic retraction by the springs K. An eccentric, L, inconnection with said self-retraction of the bed-plate J and itssuperincumber form I, enables the operator to advance the latter to theexact position to insure the proper pressure of the angling-rollers E Efor the bending of the sides of the pan, and also enables him tomomentarily draw back the work to permit the return-stroke of therollers. M M, &c., are screws, which serve to set up the blocks that areto be used inorder that the angling-rollers E E may not be subjected toan injurious strain by coming in contact with more than one thickness ofmetal. blocks of wood or other material may be substituted for theset-screws M M, if desired.

N is a clamp, which holds the sheet of metal firmly down on the form I,and also serves, by means of the wedges or beveled shoulders at n andinclined planes I, to crowd the blocks snugly together.

N is a catch, which secures the clamp N in position when in operation.

Secured to the rear of the gate D is a gage, O, which is adjusted tosuit different depths of pans by the set-screw P. Attaching the gage 0to the sliding gate D leaves the part of the table B hack of the rollersclear of any obstruction, and in small workshops, where economy of spaceis a desideratum, the rear portion of V the table may be dispensed withaltogether without detracting any from the power or capacity of themachine.

R is a slotted jack-head for closing down the corners of the pan, by theaid of the mallet,in the usual way, the said head having a round stem,which enters a corresponding socket in the frame A, firmly supportingthe head at a suitable elevation, while permitting it to be freelyturned about to any convenient position for the work.

Operation: The gage '0 being set to produce Wedges or the required depthof pan, the machineis-ready for action. A sheet of metal, S, Fig. 2,being clamped down on the form I, with one edge resting against the gageO, the an gling-rollers E E are brought down on the metal, and the sheetis uniformly and evenly pressed from the center outward and withouttwisting or buckling it, thus producing one end of the pan, and themetal being then liberated from the form the opposite end is made in thesame manner. The great advantages obtained by the use of theangling-rollers over a single horizontal one consist in the factithatthe pressure is gradu-- ally applied to the sheet metal, which permitsof the machine being operated with less expenditure of power, besidesproducing no injurious shock or strain of the mechanism, and alsopresses the metal from the center outward. When the ends of the requirednumber of pans have been bent the blocks corresponding to the desiredlength of pan are set out of line with the other blocks by the screws MM, and the bent ends being inserted in the joints between the blocks 11, &c., another depression of the rollers E E bends down the side,andthis operation is repeated to form the opposite and last side. Beforeeach and every descent of the rollersthe form I is advanced a slightdistance toward them by the eccentric L, and after the stroke has beencompleted, and before the rollers are allowed to return, the eccentricis shifted, so as to release the form from the line with the remainingone, substantially as described.

3. In this combination, the gage 0, when attached to the gate D, for thepurpose of regulating the depth of the pans, in the manner set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES F. CHAMBERS.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, GEO. H. KNIGHT.

